Top 10 Best Game Series That Went First-Person

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Talk about shifting perspectives! These games made the move to a more immersive experience by allowing players to explore their worlds in the first-person view. Games such as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Wolfenstein, and Resident Evil have all experimented with the ever-popular first-person format, and for the most part, this option was well received by fans and critics.
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These games just got even more immersive. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we will be counting down our picks for the top 10 best game series that went first-person.

For this list, we’ll be taking a look at the games that made the transition into the first-person perspective. Some of these may only have the first-person perspective a mode they can toggle between, while others have completely jumped to this point-of-view. From third-person, side-scrolling or top-down to first-person, it’s eligible for this list.

#10: “Command and Conquer: Renegade” (2002)

Okay, jumping from one perspective to another while sticking with the same genre is one thing, but this completely flips the script. The Command and Conquer games are typically real-time strategy games, so the transition to a first-person shooter did feel a little jarring. You play a commando by the name of Nick “Havoc” Parker, set loose in wide open levels. The non-stop action, plethora of weapons and vehicles, and countless enemies to destroy are well worth it. Coupled with the familiar themes, items, and characters known to the series, it’s a blast to play.

#9: “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” (2017)

Yes! No more third-person corner peeking! …unless you’re playing a third-person server. While the game allows you to toggle between third-person and first-person, servers were added later on that restricted players to the first-person perspective, which actually changes the game significantly. The sense of scale is magnified. People can’t see through or around walls anymore, gunplay feels a lot better, and the game feels more realistic and immersive overall. It goes to show how big an effect player perspective can have on the gameplay experience.

#8: “Catacomb 3-D” (1991)

The original catacomb released in 1989, and while it had some charm, its graphical and gameplay limitations made it hard to have long sessions. Catacomb 3-D came out in 1991 and acted sort of like a prototype for Wolfenstein 3D. It uses the same engine and has pretty much the same gameplay. You play as a wizard, shooting at monsters while traversing a maze-like level. Secrets could be found by blasting away walls in front of you. That’s right, first-person destructible environments way back in ’91!

#7: “SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle” (1999)

Don’t let the name change fool you; SWAT evolved from the series Police Quest, which was a side-scrolling adventure game in which – you guessed it – you play as a police officer, where one wrong move is an instant game over. SWAT turned it into a point-and-click FMV, SWAT 2 turned it into a tactical shooter, and the SWAT 3 transformed it into a highly strategic FPS. Instead of running and gunning, you can force hostiles to surrender and actually arrest them… but nobody has time for that. Blast ‘em, boys!

#6: “Grand Theft Auto V” (2014)

The GTA franchise has never been about realism. What it does take pride in, is its attention to detail, and of course, fun factor. Both things are amplified immensely with the first-person view Rockstar added with the re-release of GTA V for next-gen consoles. The great thing about it is that you can turn it on or off on the fly, so you don’t have to commit to a fully first-person playthrough. Want to go back to third-person when you get into cover, or when you enter vehicles? You're all set.

#5: “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” (2017)

Another game that people were wary about, Resident Evil 7 took gamers by surprise on the announcement that it was going to be first-person. The static camera angles from the first few games in the series obscured views, amplifying the horror as you didn't know what was going to be around a corner, and 7's perspective change achieves much of the same effect. It steered the franchise back towards survival horror, limiting resources, increasing enemy difficulty, and having more fight or flight moments and more scares overall.

#4: “Wolfenstein 3D” (1992)

While it wasn’t the first FPS ever, it did set the standard and establish many conventions that still persist today. Health and ammo pickups, secret areas and new weapons are all here. What many gamers don’t realize is that the original game in the series, “Castle Wolfenstein,” was actually an action-adventure game with stealth elements. The change from this style to Wolfenstein 3D was all thanks to John Carmack and his innovative 3D game engine. The rest is history.

#3: “Duke Nukem 3D” (1996)

One of the best parts about transitioning the Duke Nukem series from 2D platformer to 3D FPS is that the developers could make a game that really stood out from the rest of the genre. Duke's personality was unlike any seen in a video game before. His attitude and badassery come through as he blasts through aliens and tips strippers. Of course, this isn't enough material to justify its acclaim as an FPS. It succeeds based on its level design, varying enemies and environments, and a large arsenal of weaponry.

#2: “Fallout 3” (2008)

We can understand gamers' reluctance to check Fallout 3 out when it was released. It did go from an isometric strategy game to an FPS. ‘Oblivion with guns’ either got people excited or turned them away. Those that did give it a go were pleasantly surprised by the deep and rewarding gameplay it offered, partly in thanks to its reinvention of the VATS system. Your stats and how you choose to level up dictates your success rate in everything, whether it be scoring criticals, hacking terminals, persuading NPC's or anything in between. And hey, you can always switch to Third-person if you’re not a fan of first!

#1: “Metroid Prime” (2002)

Transitioning into a good fps is one thing, but becoming one of the most games in the genre in the process is an incredible feat. Despite the perspective change, Metroid Prime captures everything that made the side-scrollers so brilliant. The grand sense of adventure, exploration, and scale completely absorb you into the world, and it cements Samus Aran as a gaming icon. It isn’t just a great Metroid game, and it’s more than just a great FPS. Metroid Prime is one of the best games ever crafted.